Superhuman
Superhuman is an email client designed for speed. Keyboard shortcuts, split inbox, and AI triage help you process email faster. The AI features introduce mild cognitive erosion.
Why this score
The speed-first design reduces time in email. Most tools want you to stay longer; Superhuman wants you to leave faster.
AI-powered triage, auto-summaries, and suggested replies handle decisions you would otherwise make yourself.
The breakdown
- Attention Capture2.0
Mechanics designed to keep you in the app right now — infinite scroll, autoplay, variable rewards, and reactive swipe-tap loops.
- Habit Formation3.0
Mechanics designed to bring you back — streak coercion, default push notifications, and re-engagement of dormant users.
- Social Pressure1.0
How much the experience exploits social psychology — public metrics, profile curation, and status comparison against others.
- Time Theft2.0
Mechanics that steal more time than you intended to give — no stopping cues, short units, and 'just one more' loops.
- Cognitive Erosion1.0
Mechanics that replace your independent thinking, memory, or judgment — creating dependency on the tool to function.
- Cognitive Nourishment4.0
Whether the app actively strengthens your ability to think for yourself. Shown on the label, but it does not affect the score.
Recommended usage
Use the keyboard shortcuts. The speed comes from your own muscle memory, not from outsourcing your judgment.